5/16/2014

PSC announces dates for Badger Coulee scoping sessions

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin this week released the dates, times and locations of six scoping sessions to solicit input from the public to help determine the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement that must be prepared regarding the proposed Badger Coulee Transmission Project. The PSC also mailed notifications to potentially affected property owners.

American Transmission Co. and Xcel Energy jointly filed an application with the Public Service Commission to construct a 345,000-volt electric transmission line from north of La Crosse to northern Dane County, Wisconsin.

A flowchart of the PSC’s comprehensive regulatory review process is available here.

More than 90 percent of the approximately 182-mile northern route uses existing utility and Interstate or U.S. Highway corridors, and about 60 percent of the approximately 159-mile southern route uses shared corridors. Both route options have the same end points: Xcel Energy’s new Briggs Road Substation near Holmen and ATC’s North Madison Substation in the Town of Vienna, continuing to ATC’s Cardinal Substation in the Town of Middleton. If the project is approved, the PSC will select the final route. The estimated cost is $540 million to $580 million, depending on the route.

ATC and Xcel Energy anticipate receiving a decision on the project by April 2015.

Anyone interested in this project is invited to attend the PSC’s meetings. The sessions will run from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Dates and locations
Wednesday, May 28, 2014 -- Waunakee Village Community Center, 333 S. Madison St., Waunakee
Monday, June 2, 2014 -- Town of Holland Town Hall, W7937 County Road MH, Holland
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 -- Cashton Community Hall, 811 Main St., Cashton
Thursday, June 5, 2014 -- Kalahari Resorts, 1305 Kalahari Dr., Wisconsin Dells
Monday, June 9, 2014 -- Comfort Inn and Suites, W10170 Holiday Dr., Black River Falls
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 -- Best Western, 1017 East McCoy Blvd., Tomah